Keeping your original teeth is always preferable, but sometimes, routine extractions are necessary. When a tooth has been damaged from trauma or disease, baby teeth are out of place, or orthodontic treatment is needed, routine extractions may be the best solution to ensure that your smile stays healthy. This procedure is routine and simple but it’s a good idea to know what to expect during and after a tooth extraction procedure. 

When a Routine Tooth Extraction is Necessary

There are many reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted. In the case of trauma or injury where a tooth is fractured or cracked, extraction may be the best solution. Sometimes, the cause of a tooth extraction may be due to disease. Gum disease, untreated cavities, and infections may all result in a damaged tooth that requires a routine extraction procedure. If baby teeth grow out of place or you’re undergoing an orthodontic treatment, your dentist may decide that tooth extractions are needed to ensure that your teeth have enough room to grow or shift to their proper positions. 

What to Expect During the Procedure

Routine tooth extractions are done in-office and typically only require local anesthesia around the tooth area. Once the area is numb and your dentist has a good idea of what the tooth and root look like, they will begin the procedure. After using a tool to loosen your tooth, forceps will be used to actually remove the tooth. If necessary, your tooth may be removed in several pieces depending on the details of your case. Patients can expect to feel pressure around the area but should not feel any pain during the procedure. Once completed, your dentist will apply gauze and stitches, if needed, to the extraction site to help the blood clot formation process.

What a Typical Recovery Period Looks Like

After having a tooth extracted, you should plan to rest for at least 24 hours, avoid straws, rinsing, and spitting in order to allow the blood clot to form properly. Take any medications as prescribed by your dentist and focus on eating soft foods that will not irritate the extraction site. Patients should be sure to follow up with their dentist as needed after the procedure. 

At Cakmes Dental Studio, our goal is to help our patients achieve the smile they’ve always wanted by offering each individual the highest quality care available. When a routine tooth extraction is necessary, you can trust that our team has the experience and most advanced technology to ensure that the process is successful. Visit our website to learn more about the many services we offer and to schedule an appointment.

Every April we acknowledge the causes, symptoms, and treatments for stress. For around 30 years, Stress Awareness Month has strived to bring awareness to the ways stress impacts our daily routines and what we can do about it. In order to find ways to alleviate stress, it’s first important to identify the cause and what symptoms you may be experiencing, even without realizing it. Teeth grinding and clenching your jaw are common signs of stress or anxiety and can have damaging effects if they continue in the long term. 

Effects of Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also referred to as Bruxism, occurs when you are constantly grinding, gnashing, or clenching your teeth together. This behavior can be unconscious, and you may notice that it increases when you’re feeling stressed or while sleeping. Grinding your teeth can chip and fracture your teeth as well as cause them to become loosened from the repeated pressure. Your tooth enamel can also be worn down, which leads to increased pain and sensitivity. Along with the effects on your teeth, Bruxism can cause jaw pain and headaches. 

What Treatments are Available?

One way to reduce teeth grinding is to start by managing your stress. Find ways to keep yourself relaxed or make note of times when you’re feeling stressed and focus on keeping your jaw relaxed to prevent clenching or grinding your teeth together. Practicing relaxation techniques can also help you reduce this behavior. Some dentists may recommend a mouth guard for sleeping which can keep you from gnashing your teeth at night. Another option that’s been proven beneficial is that of Botox®. Botox® relieves tension in the jaw by making the muscles unable to physically perform the movements that cause the pain, especially when they are unconscious. If you notice any tooth or jaw pain, or have chips and fractures as a result of teeth grinding, it is important to get in to see a dentist who can recommend a personalized treatment plan.  

At Cakmes Dental Studio, we want everyone to feel confident and happy with their smile. If you have teeth grinding tendencies or have noticed the effects of grinding your teeth, we can help you restore, and even improve, your smile. We can address and fix any painful teeth as a result of damaged enamel and can repair any chips with our aesthetic contouring services. Long-term teeth grinding can lead to more significant issues down the road, so it’s important to not put this off. Give us a call at (865) 584-6163 or visit our website to request an appointment.